08.04.20 Newsletter no.2
Thank you – you’re making it safer for the NHS
On Thursday, the BBC may be coming to Lissenden Gardens to film our balconies as we applaud front-line workers. Arrangements hadn’t been finalised as this newsletter was being printed, but let’s do our best to be out there at 8pm clapping, banging pots and providing a true Lissenden chorus.
The BBC had also heard that we are working cooperatively to slow down the spread of the virus. We’ve been sticking to Government guidelines (see overleaf) and disinfecting each stairway’s street door handles, intercom panels and internal bannisters – places that can harbour the coronavirus.
The more we do this, the more we make Lissenden Gardens a safe place for the doctors, nurses and carers who live here.
Lissenden update: here are some highlights:
Stairway 81 – 90 Parly is really well-organised. Every flat except one is in a stairway WhatsApp group, and the group includes carers who come to two of the residents. ‘And it’s not just for organising shopping,’ says stairway rep Gary Henson. ‘It was someone’s twelfth birthday the other day, so we arranged to stand in the stairway [at a distance] and sing Happy Birthday.’ Stairway cleaning involves people from five out of the ten flats, he adds, but with the Royal Free in clear view they also keep the NHS in mind. Gary has, for example, been taking unsold bread from the Lido Café to the Ambulance Station in Cressy Road.
Stairway 11 – 20 Lissenden, which has lots of talented young musicians, have been putting on stairway community concerts. On Monday Eloise (aged 11) played ‘I had a dream’ on her flute, and stairway rep Kate Silverston says there was lots of applause up the stairway from neighbours who had come to their doors. Plans were also being made for Rowena (aged 17) to play her cello and Abbey (aged 16) to play her French horn on different nights. Stairway cleaning of bannisters, handles and the entryphone panel are being done four times a day by seven different people, including a four-year-old. Shopping and cooking have been organised for one of the older residents and another self-isolating person has booked an online delivery slot.
Stairway 11 – 20 Parly is doing a great job ensuring that the children on the stair are kept occupied as well as safe. Someone has marked out squares for hopscotch outside the back door (don’t tell the caretakers) so the children from each family can play together. In addition, a resident who has one of the small allotments at the back has organised it so that the children from three families can do gardening on a third of it each. Imogen and Olivia, the two reps, also clean the bannisters, street door handles and entry panels twice a day. So far, no one on the stairway has had coronavirus symptoms, and no one has required shopping, but most people are in touch with each other so the stairway is prepared for action.
Follow Government guidelines on avoiding coronavirus
Stay at home. Only go out:
· for essential shopping/healthcare
· to care for someone vulnerable
· to work when it can’t be done from home
· once a day for exercise, alone or with someone from your household only.
Also:
· Stay two metres away from other people if you have to go out.
· Wash your hands for 20 seconds regularly during the day
· Try not to touch your face.
Suggestion of the week: (from Helen Jack):
if you or your children have been doing crafts/art, keep it safe and we’ll have an exhibition when Covid is over.